WGA West honors Linda Woolverton

Writer received lifetime achievement award

Linda Woolverton (“The Lion King”) has been tapped for a lifetime achievement award by the Writers Guild of America West’s animation writers caucus.

Woolverton broke into the business as a development exec at CBS and began penning teleplays for animated TV shows such as “The Berenstain Bears.” She was then hired to pen the screenplay for “Beauty and the Beast,” followed by “The Lion King,” co-written with Irene Mecchi and Jonathan Roberts.

She also adapted “Beauty and the Beast” for Broadway and co-wrote the book for Elton John and Tim Rice’s musical “Aida.”

“Linda is one of the few writers about whom it’s safe to say that her work has been seen and loved by billions,” said WGA West president Patric Verrone. “As if writing the most successful animated film of all time and the only one ever nominated for a best picture Oscar isn’t enough, adapting her work into a 14-year run on Broadway is nice, too.”

Woolverton’s other shared screen credits include “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” and “Arctic Circle.” She most recently penned the screenplay for “Alice in Wonderland,” directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp.